21 Things to Do in St. Petersburg, FL with Kids

We’re all on the lookout for that perfect beach vacation with kids. I know you’re picturing your toes in the soft white sand while the kids splash in the shallow waves. Maybe there’s an umbrella in your drink. After a long day outside you’ll shower, throw on that breezy sundress, and amble over to dinner. Sleep. Wake up. Repeat.

You couldn’t pick a better spot than St. Petersburg, FL for that type of family vacation. St. Petersburg is known for consistently sunny days with an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, warm Gulf of Mexico waters, and beautiful white sand beaches.

No wonder it was voted America’s #1 Beach in 2021 by Tripadvisor!

Our family lived in Florida for 5 years, and during that time I began my career as a travel writer. Naturally, I began exploring destinations close to home. I visited dozens of Florida beaches in order to write about them.

I don’t know if I would choose St. Pete Beach as my number 1 favorite beach, but it certainly has a lot of family-friendly features! Miles of coastline so you can spread out, sugary white sand, calm Gulf waters for kids to play in, and plenty of cool and unique hotels.

Whether you’re visiting for a day or parking yourself on the beach for a weeklong getaway, I’ve got some great suggestions for the top family-friendly things to do in St. Petersburg, FL.

>> Check out all Florida Destination blog posts here!

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Planning a St. Petersburg, FL Family Vacation

If you’re interested in visiting St. Petersburg, Fl, I would highly recommend getting a hotel or vacation rental and staying there for a few days.

We were staying Sarasota with friends, which is about an hour’s drive away. The hardest part about visiting for a day, especially during spring break time, was finding parking around the popular spots. St. Pete Beach was kind of a nightmare for parking.

It would make the most sense to stay somewhere beachfront, or at least within walking distance of the beach, in order to avoid the hassle of parking.

We found parking to be totally doable around St. Pete Pier, downtown St. Petersburg, and at Fort De Soto Park, especially if you arrive earlier in the day.

What to Do in St. Petersburg Florida with Kids

There is so much to do in the St. Pete area, and it sort of blends together with nearby Clearwater and Tampa Bay. I’m going to give you a list of things you shouldn’t miss in St. Petersburg, then add a list of nearby activities at the end incorporating nearby cities.

1. St. Pete Pier

St. Pete Pier is a newly constructed attraction overlooking the Tampa Bay waterfront. It’s surrounded by the Pier District with a playground, restaurants, splash pad, discovery center, waterfront walkway, beach, and plaza.

You could easily spend a few hours here with kids. They will especially enjoy the gigantic playground and splash pad. Bring swimsuits, towels, a change of clothes, and lots of sunscreen.

When we got warm after spending sometime outside in the Florida sun, we headed over to the Spa Beach Bistro for ice cold lemonade. There were also coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages for the parents, ice cream treats, and more food options.

You’ll find plenty of seating in the shade to rest, relax, and snack.

St. Pete Pier is an excellent family-friendly addition to St. Petersburg.

2. Strolling Central Ave in Downtown St. Petersburg

Just a short walk away from the Pier district is the heart of downtown St. Petersburg - Central Ave. This is the perfect spot to stroll, shop, or grab lunch or dinner.

Duck into beachy boutiques or truly get into vacation mode by stopping at Brutique where you can order cocktails and craft beers before perusing the racks of trendy clothes.

Choose from almost every type of cuisine from Italian to Greek to Vegan. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating so you can enjoy the energy of the city as you eat.

There’s truly something for everyone on Central Ave.

3. Mural Tour

While you’re downtown, don’t forget to go on a Mural Tour! I turned it into a fun scavenger hunt with my daughter. We peeked around corners and checked the sides of buildings for the beautiful artwork painted on the walls.

There are 98 murals in total around St. Pete, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a few! Pose in front of them for Instagram, do a photo scavenger hunt, or take a guided walking tour.

4. Fort De Soto Park

As I mentioned, our family has visited a LOT of beaches around Florida, and one of our all-time favorite spots in Fort De Soto Park. It’s a state park, so you’ll need to pay a $5 entry fee to get in, but once you’re there you’ll find lots to do with the kids.

You can explore the old fort and discover the history that took place there. Climb to the top of the fort for great views of the beach, too!

Head to the pier for fishing or to search for dolphins. We were really lucky and saw a few on our second visit! I spotted one and tried to point it out to my daughter. She missed it at first, but we stayed until it resurfaced (or another one visited) and she got to see it.

Next make your way over to North Beach where you’ll find a pirate ship playground and one of the most toddler-friendly beaches in Florida. The beach is wide and flat, and the waves are gentle. There’s even a sand bar when the tide is low so kids can splash around in a tide pool without worrying about getting knocked over by waves.

If your family is active you can rent bikes and make use of the many trails around the park or rent kayaks and head out into the sea for some fun.

5. Salvador Dalí Museum

Even if you’re not necessarily a huge art fan (I’m not), you will still want to plan a visit to the iconic Dalí museum.

His surrealist paintings are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. As a Spanish major in college, I have a real appreciation for his work, and even kids will get a kick out of it. (Google the Persistence of Memory - the painting of the melting clocks. It’s so cool!)

Download the Dalí Museum App where you can find audio tours, including audio tours for kids!

Don’t miss the outside of the museum where you’ll find the Avant-garden with a Wish Tree, Fountain of Youth, a Mathematical Garden, a Grotto, and even a Labyrinth. Plus you can enjoy the unique architecture off the museum and capture some great photos.

The museum is currently requiring advance purchase tickets for timed entry, so be sure to check ahead of time for availability.

Parking: $5
Adults (18-64): $25
Discounted Adult (Senior age 65+, Educator, Fire, Police, Military): $23
Discounted Student (13-17, College Students): $18
Youth (6-12): $10
Children (5 and under): FREE

6. Sunken Gardens

This beautiful garden is a tranquil spot to enjoy nature with plants from all around the world. You’ll find waterfalls, flamingos, tropical flowers, and winding pathways.

If you’re interested in learning about the flora and fauna of Florida, this is the perfect spot to do it.

Oh, and parking is free!

Admission:
Adults: $12
Seniors (62+): $10
Children (2-17): $6

7. St Pete Beach

Naturally, you can’t visit St. Petersburg without checking out the beach. While there is miles of coastline in the area, make sure to check out the famous St. Pete Beach.

It’s bustling and full of beachfront hotels, restaurants, and shops. As I mentioned, parking is hard to come by here, so get there early if you plan to spend the day. There are a few public parking lots with beach access, so look for those!

If you’re looking for more activities other than relaxing in the sand, catch a dolphin or sunset cruise and spend some time out on the water.

8. See the Don Cesar (the pink hotel)

While you’re in St. Pete Beach, make sure to check out the iconic Don Cesar hotel The Pink Palace opened in 1928 and has hosted many-a celebrity.

While it’s quite upscale, it’s also a family-friendly hotel. Non-hotel guests are welcome to look around the lobby and visit the restaurants and retail shops on-property.

Make sure to get a picture in front of the beautiful pink hotel. It truly is a wonder to behold!

I stopped by with my daughter because I knew she would fall in love with the hotel, as pink is one of her favorite colors. We were blown away by how magnificent every detail is, both inside and out.

9. Take A Kayak Tour

Active families can take a guided kayak tour in St. Petersburg. There are tons of options to choose from, including kayaking through the mangroves, looking for dolphins or manatees, and even kayaking out to a nature preserve like Shell Key island.

I considered this activity with my daughter, but it was quite windy during our visit, and I wasn’t sure I could handle choppy waters with a 7-year-old. I figure we’ll give it a go on our next visit!

10. Take a Ferry to A Nature Preserve

Taking the ferry to Shell Key Preserve or Egmont Key was at the top of my list this year. We even booked our tickets, but they were canceled at the last minute due to wind.

Shell Key Preserve is an uninhabited island where you can search for shells, look for sea life, relax with your own packed cooler of food and drink, or swim in the warm Gulf water.

Egmont Key is a state park and wildlife refuge and is also only accessible by boat.

Either one of these islands would make a unique experience, and would be so fun to do with kids!

11. Great Exploration Children’s Museum

If it’s one of St. Petersburg’s rare rainy days, head to the Great Exploration Children’s Museum where kids can get a hands-on learning experience that just feels like play!

It’s perfect for kids 10 and under, so if you have toddlers and preschoolers, make sure to add this to your itinerary. (And it’s located right next to the Sunken Gardens, so you can schedule them both in the same day!)

With exhibits like a realistic grocery store, a news station, and a kitchen, kids can try on different “jobs” and really use their imaginations!

12. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

If your family loves the outdoors then be sure to make a stop at Boyd Hill Nature Reserve. Take advantage of the many hiking paths where you’ll likely see all kinds of wildlife!

You can also check out Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center to learn more about the preserve’s ecosystems and wildlife.

Admission:
$3/adult
$1.50/children ages 3-16
under age 3 is FREE

13. Saturday Morning Market

Every Saturday from early October to late May you can find a farmer’s market in the Al Lang Field parking lot from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. During the summer months head to Williams Park where there is more shade.

Catch a glimpse of local life in St. Petersburg, where vendors sell every type of cuisine, artisanal food and baked goods,

There are plenty of spots nearby where you can enjoy your food after purchasing it! This is a great spot for travelers who appreciate good food.

14. Skyway Fishing Pier

While driving around the Tampa Bay Area you won’t be able to miss the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge which connects St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, Florida. It’s a stunning suspension bridge, and you can get a great view of it from Fort De Soto Park.

The old Skyway bridge has been turned into the world’s longest fishing pier and a Florida State Park. You can pay a $4 entry fee for your vehicle and head out to do some fishing.

15. John’s Pass

John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk is the perfect spot to shop for souvenirs, enjoy some fresh seafood, or take a dolphin cruise.

It’s located in Madeira Beach which is just north or St. Petersburg, so it would be a fun outing if you need a bit of a break from the beach.

Things to Do with Kids Near St. Pete

16. Pier 60

Clearwater, Florida is about a 50 minute drive north, but it’s well worth a visit to Pier 60 where you can take in one of the famous sunset celebrations.

There are artisans selling handicrafts on the pier, performers, and, of course, the sunset is the star of the show.

We arrived around 2 hours before sunset, and wandered along the beach, purchased souvenirs from artisans, and took photos of the beach from the end of the pier.

With some time to kill before the main event, we made a stop at Beverly’s Ice Cream shop so the kids could enjoy some sweet treats while the adults relaxed. Once sunset was imminent, we walked across the street to sit in the sand and watch while the kids did cartwheels and ran around.

It was super fun, but also quite crowded (we made the mistake of attending on St. Patty’s day which was also during Spring Break week. We did NOT plan that out well). Parking was quite expensive, and we almost paid to park in a lot with a $50 flat rate. Luckily we found a parking garage attached to a hotel with a $20 flat rate for the sunset celebration. Still a lot to pay, but better than $50!

I’m sure if you get there early enough you could find better rates or street parking.

Totally worth doing, though! We all had a blast.

17. LEGOLAND

This theme park located in Winter Haven, FL is just over an hour’s drive from St. Petersburg. If you have LEGO lovers in your family, this is well worth the drive.

There are so many kid-friendly rides and exhibits that your whole family will enjoy. Do not miss the (relatively) new VR roller coaster! It was unlike any ride I’ve ever been on. So much fun!

Also be sure to check out the botanical gardens within the park. It’s so quite and serene that you forget you’re inside a theme park! That’s where we took our picnic lunch to relax.

Ticket prices vary depending on how many days you want to attend as well as if you want to include the water park in your visit, so be sure to check the website for the different options. I will say that it’s significantly cheaper than Disney or Universal Orlando, so if you’re going to do 1 theme parks, this is a pretty great option for young families!

(Although let’s be honest. I LOVE both Disney World and Universal Orlando. Universal is great for a family with older kids, and Disney should just be its own experience on a separate trip).

18. ZooTampa

Let me just start by saying that I’ve never really loved going to the zoo, but once you have kids you learn to put up with it for their sake.

ZooTampa was one of my favorite zoos to visit with little ones because they actually have an entire area of the zoo dedicated to toddlers and little kids including lots of rides and a Wallaby Walkabout!

If you’re going stir crazy and need a day out, check out ZooTampa.

>> Related: Family Travel Guide to Tampa Bay

19. Busch Gardens

if you’re visiting with older kids, Busch Gardens would be a really fun theme park outing. There are tons of thrilling rides and roller coasters. If you have a mix of age levels in your group, you can take the younger kids to the Sesame Place area where there are llve performances, playgrounds, toddler-friendly rides, and characters walking around.

Other than that area we didn’t find a lot to do with our young children, so I would definitely save this park for when the kids are older.

Busch Gardens is located in Tampa Bay so it’s just over the bridge and probably under a 45-minute drive.

20. Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Want to meet a famous movie start dolphin? If you’re planning to hit Pier 60 for sunset I would definitely add Clearwater Marine Aquarium to your itinerary that day because it’s home to Winter the Dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale!

Aside from the dolphins you can pet a stingray, watch sea turtles and otters, and even take an eco boat tour in Clearwater Bay!

21. Tampa Bay Riverwalk

Our family loved strolling the Tampa Bay Riverwalk and finding all sorts of playgrounds, splash pads, and museums along the way. You can also stroll part of it then take the Pirate Water Taxi up and down the river to get to the spots you want to see more quickly.

We loved eating at Armature Works that’s on the far end of the Riverwalk. It’s a marketplace of restaurants with group seating both indoor and outdoor.

Family-Friendly Hotels in St. Pete Beach

Don Cesar

I already mentioned the Don Cesar as a place to visit, but it’s also a kid-friendly place to stay with 2 heated pools, kids’ menus at the restaurants, a kids camp, and apparently a kid’s closet where you can borrow items you forgot or couldn’t bring with you!

Check current prices here.

Tradewinds Beach Resort

Tradewinds Beach Resort markets itself as one of the top kid-friendly resorts in the United States. With a calendar of activities for kids, 5 pools, beach access, tons of restaurants on site, and paddle boats for rent, you’ll never run out of things to do, and you might not even want to leave the resort.

Check current prices here.

Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park

I have a full blog post review about this Hilton property from when we visited Tampa a few years ago. It’s not on the beach, but it’s a nice quiet spot if you want to be away from the hustle and bustle and tourist crowds, as well as closer to Tampa to give you more options for outings.

Check current prices here.

St. Petersburg, Florida is about as family-friendly as it gets.

Everyone from nature lovers to outdoor adventure families to beach bums to museum buffs will find something to do and enjoy in this sunny Florida town.

Make sure to grab your Family Travel Planner to make planning your vacation a breeze!

And if you’re road-tripping, grab a Kid’s Road Trip Activity book, too!